festival vibes

Dancing Astronaut’s Top Festival Vibes of 2017

Each year, thousands of individuals indulge in an ever-expanding menu of festivals, and are in turn satiated by the five-star production prowess only a well-oiled machine could pull off. This list celebrates the unparalleled destinations. The selected festivals were not only the strongest standouts in their attention to detail, each went above and beyond in artistic and experiential curation; honing in on the role of their setting and, in turn, oozing unparalleled vibes from each and every fiber of their existence. These are Dancing Astronaut’s top eight festival vibes of 2017. Featured image courtesy of Juliana Bernstein

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8. Moogfest

Moogfest, the self-prescribed “synthesis of music, art, and technology” is the perfect destination for forward-thinking individuals looking to experience more than a mainstage set at their next festival. By day, the Durham, North Carolina event is a platform for conversation and experimentation. By night, fans can enjoy cutting-edge music in venues throughout the city. Themes range from techno-shamanism to Sci-Fi wishes and Utopian dreams with an eclectic roster of artists to match its unique themes.

7. Electric Forest

Electric Forest is a magical celebration of art, creativity, EDM, and jam bands all under one kaleidoscopic tree canopy. Each June, near 50,000 attendees flock to Sherwood Forest adorned in costumes as vibrant as the landscape for one of the most otherworldly festivals in recent memory. Boasting art installations, trading posts, wacky stages, and activities at every turn, Electric Forest made an immensely respectable decision in expanding from one to two weekends in 2017; preserving the integrity of the festival and keeping its beloved intimacy at an all-time high.

6. CRSSD Fest

CRSSD Festival’s unique programming is an intriguing intersection of both mainstream and underground talents, which continues to propel the San Diego waterfront festival to statewide and international stardom. With a bill that featured acclaimed underground acts like Palms Trax, Hito, and The Black Madonna, as well as the infectious pop melodies of RÜFÜS DU SOL and Chromeo, it’s no surprise that CRSSD Festival has become a favorite among southern-California partygoers and will surely continue to in the future.

5. Dirtybird Campout

Year after year, Dirtybird’s west coast Campout bolsters an invigorating array of artistry amidst its beloved, intimate camp environment, fostering an unparalleled relationship between artist and attendee – or rather, camper and counselor. With the ever-increasing and deserved infatuation with the Dirtybird clan, it should come as no surprise that the campout is expanding to a bi-annual event, flying south to Florida this winter, and while it wouldn’t be entirely out of the ordinary for fans to expect a momentous 2018 from them too, 2017 will be pretty hard to beat. We have faith though.

4. Desert Hearts

The above mantra truly encapsulates Desert Heart’s ethos. Upon entering the intimate festival’s off-the-grid confines, a tangible feeling of connection and friendship immediately presents itself, carrying attendees all the way through 80+ hours of “house, techno, and love.”

Desert Hearts saw astronomical growth in 2017, with an expansive City Hearts tour across the U.S., record-breaking (and capped out) numbers at the festival, and of course, the debut City Hearts festival in LA. That said, the positivity that radiates from the festival’s founding crew remains undiluted — a trait that is increasingly hard to find in today’s festival sphere.

3. Movement

Held in Detroit’s historic Hart Plaza, Movement Festival is a physical manifestation of techno’s birth. The festival’s programming features an amalgamation of underground & globally recognized talent spanning a variety of genres and styles. Last year showcased acclaimed artists like Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, and The Belleville Three, while simultaneously boasting an ever-expanding plethora of undercards like DVS1, Drumcell, and AX&P; Movement sums up a genre of diverse musical styles in its immensely in-tune booking.

2. Oregon Eclipse

Centered around a rare heavenly phenomenon, Oregon Eclipse stands out from the pack due to its immensely global and collaborative nature. By combining the creative acumen of some of the world’s most innovative music festivals led by Symbiosis, Oregon Eclipse crafted an immersive environment with seemingly boundless opportunities. In a world where success is measured by the number of successful years that a festival can string together, Oregon Eclipse completely embraced its uniquely singular nature.

1. Sonus

Sonus, organized by Time Warp, has become Croatia’s crown jewel of the underground. Thousands of party people from all over the world flood the picturesque island city of Novalja each August for five days and five nights to get their fill of house and techno by the beach, making for a wild week of debauchery and new friendships forged on a dancefloor.

2017 marked its milestone fifth anniversary, with the likes of Sven Väth, Ricardo Villalobos, Seth Troxler, and more joining in on the celebration. If the multitudes of ecstatic faces and caliber sets say anything at all, it’s that Sonus is a destination festival not to miss.